One Year Ago... We went to the Holy Land!

One year ago I was blessed to lead a group of parishioners to the Holy Land.  Below are links to the blog pages that summarize each day.  Each blog page includes my homily or reflection for one of the holy sites.

Mt. Tabor - Site of the Transfiguration

Holy Land Photo Album

February 18th, 2019 - Departure for the Holy Land

February 19th, 2019 - Arrival in the Holy Land

February 20th, 2019 - First Holy Site - Garden of Gethsemane

February 21st, 2019 - Bethlehem - Birth Place of Jesus

February 21st, 2019 - Origin of the Holy Hour - Garden of Gethsemane

February 22nd, 2019 - Calvary - Site of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ

February 23rd, 2019 - Tomb of Jesus - Location of the Resurrection

February 24th, 2019 - Tomb of Lazarus & Jordan River

February 25th, 2019 - Mount Beatitude and neighboring sites

February 26th, 2019 - Transfiguration & Annunciation

February 27th, 2019 - Cana, Mt. Carmel, & Departure for USA

February 28th, 2019 - Arrival in St. Louis filled with gratitude

Ash Wednesday - February 26th, 2020

Today is Ash Wednesday and for us placing ashes on our foreheads to mark the beginning of Lent is normal.  I wonder what others might think.  Sometimes those who aren’t familiar with this tradition, such as non-Catholics at work, at school, in stores, and many other places might try to help us out by saying, “Do you know that you have some dirt on your head?”  At which point you might suddenly remember it’s Ash Wednesday and this day is the beginning of Lent.  It’s an opportunity to share the Good News about Jesus Christ and our Season of Lent.  But what’s Lent all about?

Lent is a time to refocus on our relationship with God and our pursuit of Heaven.  It is a time to prepare for Easter by making more room in our hearts for Jesus Christ.  In a special way we are to recall how we have gone astray by sin and repent.  We are to turn our hearts away from the things the distract us from God and seek to be with Him forever.

Listen to my homily to learn more.

Ash Wednesday - February 26th, 2020

Readings:  Jl 2:12-18; Ps 51:3-4, 5-6AB, 12-13, 14 AND 17; 2 Cor 5:20-6:2; Mt 6:1-6, 16-18

Photo by Ahna Ziegler on Unsplash

Lent and Love - 7th Sunday of OT - February 23rd, 2020

I don’t know about you but sometimes it seems like Lent comes so quickly that I haven’t planned very well for it.  I can think of many years where I come up with my plan for Lent about a week into it or even worse where I just kind of drift through Lent without really taking advantage of the opportunity.  In order to really have a good Lent we need to understand what’s it’s purpose.  Lent is a time where we are to prepare ourselves for Easter.  It’s a time to make room in our hearts for God.  All too often we can get caught up in the busy-ness of life and neglect our spiritual lives.  Lent is a time to refocus on God and our pursuit of Heaven, so that we can be ready to celebrate His victory over death with the joy that only God can provide...  Listen to my homily to learn more!


Lent and Love - 7th Sunday of OT - February 23rd, 2020

Having trouble figuring out what to do for Lent?  Be SMART about it...
Also, here is a link that can help:  https://media.ascensionpress.com/

Choose Eternal Life! - 6th Sunday of OT - February 16th, 2020

One of the great blessings of being made in the image of God is our ability to choose.  Our first reading points to this reality when it says, “Before man are life and death, good and evil, whichever he chooses shall be given him.”  What are we choosing?  God offers us eternal life, but He won’t force it upon us.  He gives us the grace to help us choose to do good.  Listen to my homily to learn more.


Choose Eternal Life! - 6th Sunday of OT - February 16th, 2020

Readings:  SIR 15:15-20; PS 119:1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34; 1 COR 2:6-10; MT 5:17-37

Choose eternal life!  Choose to cooperate with the grace of God and follow His commandments.

Photo by Vladislav Babienko on Unsplash

Why We Go to Mass - The Presentation of the Lord - February 2nd, 2020

When I first returned to the Mass after having been away from the faith for about a decade, I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to do, but I knew God wanted me at Mass.  I realized one reason to go is to grow in the faith.  That was hard at first because I was too busy trying to figure out things like having the right posture. 

However, with time I was able to get past that, but I still struggled to pay attention.  During the readings I would often lose focus and have no idea what was read.  The readings do have lots of great information and can help us grow in the faith though.

Listen to my homily to learn about two more reasons to go to Mass.

Why We Go to Mass - The Presentation of the Lord - February 2nd, 2020

Readings:  MAL 3:1-4; Ps 24:7, 8, 9, 10; HEB 2:14-18; LK 2:22-40 OR 2:22-32

Easter Vigil Mass 2019